Team Context
- Competition: Serie A
- Head coach: Thiago Motta
- Base formation: 3-4-3 / 3-5-2 fluid
- Alternative structures: situational 4-2-3-1 in transitional play
Structural Summary
Bologna enter the 2025–26 Serie A season with a tactical identity focused on possession balance and collective role integration. Under Thiago Motta, the team combines disciplined structural phases with a willingness to manipulate spacing across units, seeking controlled progression through defined positional rotations rather than direct vertical gambles.
Game Model
Bologna’s tactical approach is rooted in positional coherence and controlled progression. Their structure typically emphasizes compact defensive positioning, balanced midblock coordination, and thoughtful build-up sequences that prioritize spatial control and phase transition management.
In possession, the team builds systematically from the back, engaging midfield connectors to bridge defense and attack, while wide roles alternate between structural width and half-space support. This methodology allows them to preserve shape while probing opposition defenses through coordinated movement rather than spontaneous penetration.
Build-Up & Progression
Build-up initiates from the back with coordinated spacing between central defenders and midfield pivots. Progression advances through a mixture of lateral and diagonal shifts designed to destabilize rigid defensive shapes.
Wide midfielders and connectors occupy half-spaces to create passing angles and sustain forward momentum without abandoning structural balance. Central channels are engaged only when positional conditions are favorable, reducing risk during phase transitions.
Defensive Organization
Out of possession, Bologna deploy a structured midblock that seeks to protect central channels while containing threats through coordinated shifting and staged pressure triggers. Rather than aggressive pressing, the defensive unit prioritizes layered containment, forcing opponents into wider areas where coordinated recovery can be achieved with less structural exposure.
This approach emphasizes spatial compactness and minimizes direct transitional risks, allowing the team to maintain equilibrium between rotation and coverage during defensive moments.
Key Functional Roles
- Central defenders: Provide structural stability and support build-up control.
- Midfield pivots: Serve as rhythm regulators and phase connectors between units.
- Wide midfielders / wing-backs: Offer both width and half-space options, facilitating controlled progression.
- Advanced support players: Coordinate inter-line movement to create controlled entries into attacking phases.
Roles are defined by collective integration and positional discipline rather than isolated individual freedom, strengthening systemic coherence.
Structural Strengths
- Controlled progression structure: Enables sustained possession while minimizing exposure.
- Positional coordination: Provides balanced spacing across phases and units.
- Defensive equilibrium: Reduces vulnerability through structured containment.
Structural Limitations
- Moderate vertical dynamism: Without rapid forward shifts, progression can be anticipated by disciplined defensive lines.
- Predictability risk: Systematic build-up patterns can become recognizable and limit penetration options.
- Central dependency: Effective transitions rely heavily on midfield coordination and half-space engagement.
System Dependencies
Bologna’s tactical framework depends on synchronized midfield rotation and disciplined wide support. Disruptions in these areas — whether due to personnel absence or tactical mismatch — can reduce the effectiveness of progression channels and weaken the transitional rhythm between units.
Verdict
Bologna present a methodical and structurally coherent tactical identity with an emphasis on balanced progression and coordinated spacing. Their sustainability in Serie A will be influenced by their ability to maintain cohesion across phases while finding ways to introduce controlled variation in vertical penetration.